AS January begins to pass us by, we are now in the depth of the mid-season transfer window.

In recent years, this has been a period of very little movement other than the odd loan signing or player replacement for injury.

This year however is slightly different with clubs looking to cash in on players who are coming to the end of their contacts, as well as off loading those that are not in plans to reduce their wage bills.

This has - and will - mean that the business side of the running of the club will take preference over the football side.

With no sign of fans coming back in great numbers anytime soon, chairmen up and down the EFL will be looking to sell players now, rather than having to run the risk of not being able to offer new contracts and players leave on a free.

This is not what fans want or what the manager will be keen on, but in the strange times it is something that will happen at clubs.

At Colchester United, we have already seen Luke Norris leave and the social media rumours also have Cohen Bramall heading out the door, with Freddie Sears linked with a return from Ipswich Town.

Norris's departure to join his boyhood town team Stevenage was a shock and personally, a disappointment.

The striker was out of contract in the summer and all parties felt now was the right time, rather than waiting.

While this does raise funds for the club, Luke is a player I liked both on and off the field.

While he may not have got goals in the numbers he would have liked, his hold up play and ability to play with his back to goal did offer something that other players could feed off.

Off the pitch, I would like to extend my thanks to him for taking the time to reach out and engage with me during my injury and recovery.

He had no need to do this, but it meant a massive amount to me feeling like someone who I liked to watch play was bothered enough to do this.

It is a credit to him as a person and I wish him well for the future, except maybe against us, when ex-strikers do have a habit of scoring.

He will be missed and leaves our options up top limited.

So let's follow the January dealing with interest and see who else is walking through the door, while hoping there is not many walking out the door.

Another week of no Colchester game, this time due to a frozen pitch up at Salford City.

It's slightly ironic the game was called off for that reason, after positive Covid tests and last season's game up there which was played on a pitch that was more like a swimming pool than turf.

On to the more promising news that last week, not before time in my opinion, the PFA have finally agreed to fund the testing of EFL clubs' players and staff.

It will provide greater security against the virus and give club medical staff a better idea of where they stand with cases.

I was pleased to see that all those tested in the latest round of tests at Colchester United were all negative.

Up the U’s.